Transit vehicle body module

ABSTRACT

A body module for a transit vehicle includes a pair of U-shaped carlines which open downwardly. The legs of each are interconnected transversely extending bulkhead structures. The carlines are connected in longitudinally spaced relation by sidewall structures including upper and lower side panels extending between the longitudinally aligned legs of the carlines. The carlines are joined at their upper portions by a roof structure including inner and outer roof panels extending therebetween and welded thereto. The floor of the passenger compartment is mounted on supports extending between the upper edges of the bulkhead structures. A plurality of the body modules are aligned longitudinally and welded end to end to provide the transit vehicle body. The sidewall structures and the roof structure provide the integral longitudinal stress sustaining frame structure of the vehicle. The sidewall structures are located above the floor line of the passenger compartment and accordingly do not obstruct the space beneath the passenger compartment floor which is used for the storage of passenger luggage, fuel tanks and electric storage batteries.

[ Feb. 26, 1974 TRANSIT VEHICLE BODY MODULE [57] ABSTRACT A body modulefor a transit vehicle includes a pair of Inventor: Donald Lee Manning,Orchard Lake, Mich.

U-shaped carlines which open downwardly. The legs of each areinterconnected transversely extending bulkhead structures. The carlinesare connected in longitudinally spaced relation by side-wall structuresincluding upper and lower side panels extending between thelongitudinally aligned legs of the carlines. The carlines are joined at.their upper portions by a roof structure including inner and outer roofpanels extending therebetween and welded thereto. The floor of thepassenger compartment is mounted on supports extending between the upperedges of the bulkhead structures. A plurality of the body modules arealigned longitudinally and welded end to end to provide the transitvehicle body. The sidewall structures and the roof structure provide theintegral longitudinal stress sustaining frame structure of the vehicle.The sidewall structures are located above the floor line of the pas-FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 92 7 20 9 BUlnJ M339, 2 n .m 8 t 3B30 a2 ,l S M K T n. r 0 N a I a m m A MA M o0 moo P m 2 2 2 CS 0 7 9 6 6 %EMM 1 9 9 T. 2 m A m 5 9 nnu R 0 5 "n" r. 8 s ns mm m w mTm GD J 2 mmm nmm w W E 0 N C N lh m W n m. d M m m P mk A F A UIF II 1 1 11]] 1 3 2 l2 00 6 7 2 2 555 5 senger compartment and accordingly do not obstruct AA0000 22 66 99 22 m ma u o m mm er GG 008. 24 99 ll 22 76 6 97 69 45 thespace beneath the passenger compartment floor which is used forthestorage of passenger luggage. fuel tanks and electric storagebatteries.

Primary ExaminerDavid Schonberg Assistant ExaminerJohn A. Pekar 3Claims, 1 Drawing Figure Attorney, Agent, or Firm--l-lerbert FurmanTRANSIT VEHICLE BODY MODULE The invention relates to a vehicle bodymodule and more particularly to a body module which may be joined withlike modules to provide a transit vehicle body.

It is known to provide a vehicle with integral body and chassisconstruction comprised of identical separately manufactured elements ormodules which are assembled to form the vehicle.

It is also known to provide such a vehicle body module having a separateframe or base structure which is located beneath the floor of the moduleand extends substantially the full length of the vehicle body.

it is desirable in vehicle bodies and particularly in transit vehiclebodies such as motor busses to have the vehicle floor as close aspossible to the roadway in ,order to minimize the number of steps whichthe passenger must climb to enter the vehicle. At the same time it isnecessary in such transit vehicles to provide sufficient space beneaththe vehicle floor for storage of passenger luggage as well asaccomodation of vital operating components of the vehicle such aselectrical storage batteries and fuel tanks. It is also necessary toobtain these objectives and have the necessary undercarriage clearancebetween the roadway and thevehicle body.

The present invention fulfills these objectives by providing a vehiclebody module in which longitudinally extending stress sustainingstructural membersare located in the sidewall structures of the moduleand generally above the floor line of the vehicle. The transverselyextending stress sustaining structural members of the vehicle bodymodule are provided by bulkhead structures extending transversely of themodule at its fore and aft ends and beneath the vehicle floor. Thebulkheads cooperate with the vehicle floor to define an underfloorcompartment of sufficient height to accomodate passenger luggage,electric storage batteries, and fuel tanks, and still have the necessaryclearance between the body and the roadway and a minimum floor height.

A vehicle body module according to the invention comprises a pair oflongitudinally spaced U-shaped carlines which open downwardly and thelegs of each are connected by transversely extending bulkheadstructures. The carlines of the module are connected in iongitudinallyspaced relation by sidewall structures including upper and lower sidepanels extending between the carlines and having stamped stiffening ribstherein to provide increased strength. The carlines are joined at theirupper portions by a roof structure including inner and outer roof panelsextending therebetween and welded thereto.

A plurality of low-profile hat-section floor supports extend between thebulkhead structures at their upper edge portions to support the floor orthe passenger compartment.

The lower side panel of the sidewall structure is located above thevehicle floor and thereby does not obstruct the space beneath thepassenger compartment floor which is used for luggage storage andvehicle components.

A plurality of body modules so constructed may be aligned longitudinallyand welded together to provide a vehicle body of desired length.

The single drawing is a perspective view of a vehicle body moduleaccording to the invention having parts broken away and in section.

Referring to the drawing, a body module 10 according to the invention isshown and includes identical U- shaped downwardly opening carlines l2and 14 having laterally spaced legs. The carlines are of rectangulartubular construction to provide high strength and low weight. Thecarlines l2 and 14 are longitudinally spaced and respectively define thefore and aft end portions of the module 10.

A stamped bulkhead structure 16 extends transversely of the module 10,between the lower portions 7 of the laterally spaced legs of carline 12.Generally U- shaped filler panels 18 each have an outboard leg welded toa respective carline leg. The inboard leg of each filler panel iscut-away at 20 so that the offset ends 22 of the bulkhead may extendtherewithin and be welded to the bight thereof. It will be apparent thatthe filler panels 18 may be eliminated from the construction by simplyutilizing a bulkhead 16 of extended length and having flanged endswelded directly to the legs of the carline 12. The bulkhead structurefor carline 14 includes angle members 24 and 26 which extendtransversely of the module 10 between the lower portion of the legs ofcarline 14. Generally U-shaped filler panels 28 each have an outboardleg welded to a respective carline leg. The inboard leg of each fillerpanel is cut-away at 30 and has the ends of the respective angle member24 or 26 welded thereto. The upper flanged edge of bulkhead l6 and theupper leg of angle member 24 are depressed at 32 to provide alongitudinal passage through the module 10.

The floor structure of the vehicle body includes a plurality of lowprofile hat-section floor supports 34 extending longitudinally betweenthe upper bulkhead 16 and the angle member 24. The ends of supports 34seat on angle brackets 36 secured to the bulkhead structure 16 andmember 24 and engage and are. welded to the upper flanged edge of thebulkhead and the upper leg of member 24. The floor panel 38 which may beof plywood, extends between the bulkhead 16 and angle member 24 and issupported in part by the floor supports 34.

, Identical right and left hand sidewall structures indicated generallyat 40 and 42 extend between the carlines 12 and 14 and provide the lowerlongitudinal stress sustaining structure of the module 10. Only theright hand wall structure 40 will be particularly described. Thisstructure includes a lower side panel 44 which extends longitudinallybetween carlines l2 and 14 and seats on the upper flanged edge .ofbulkhead l6 and the upper leg of angle member 24. One end of the lowerside panel is attached by welding to the inboard leg of filler panel 18and the other end is likewise welded to the inboard leg of filler panel28. A floor support or angle member 48 extends longitudinally betweenthe upper flanged edge of bulkhead 16 and the upper leg of angle member24 and is attached by welding to the lower side panel 38 to providesupport for the side edge portion of the floor panel 38.

The wall structure 40 also includes an upper side panel 50 extendinglongitudinally between the carlines 12 and 14 and having its offset ends52 attached thereto by welding. An off-set flange 54 of lower side panel44 and an offset flange 56 of upper side panel 50 are welded together.Flange 54 overlies and closes the end filler panels 18 and 28. Stampedstiffening ribs 58 in the lower side panel 44 and stamped stiffeningribs 60 in the upper side panel 50 impart additional strength to thesidewall structure 40. Filler braces 62 are welded to the carlines l2and 14 to the upper offset flanged edge 64 of panel 50 to increase thestrength of sidewall structure 40.

A roof structure indicated generally at 66 extends between the carlines12 and 14 and includes an inner roof panel 68 having its offset flangedends 70 attached by welding to the inner face of the carlines 12 and 14and an outer roof panel 72 attached by welding to the outer face of thecarlines 12 and 14. An access opening 74 is provided in the roofstructure 66 by pinchwelding an offset flange 76 of the inner panel tothe outer panel around the perimeter of the opening. A flanged innerside rail member 78 extends between the carlines 12 and 14 and has oneflange 80 thereof welded to the inner panel 68. The other flange ofmember 78 and an offset flange 82 of the inner panel are pinchwelded to-structure 66. Reinforcing corner brackets 92 are welded to the carlinesand to the inner panel 68 of the roof structure at the upper corners ofthe window opening 90 and cooperate with filler braces 62 in reinforcingthe opening and the strength of the module.

The transit vehicle body is assembled by aligning a plurality of thebody modules and welding them together end to end'at their fore and aftedge portions. The transit vehicle body also includes a front suspensionmodule and a driver module, as well as a rear suspension module andengine module, not shown, to provide the complete transit vehicle body.

Thus a vehicle body is provided in which the longitudinally extendingstress sustaining structural members are located above the floor line ofthe vehicle, thereby providing an under floor compartment space ofnecessary height while permitting a minimum passenger compartment floorheight and sufficient vehicle undercarriage clearance.

What is claimed is:

l. A body module for a vehicle body comprising; first and seconddownwardly opening U-shaped carlines having laterally spaced legs, firsttransversely extending bulkhead means attached in connection between thelegs of the first carline, second transversely extending bulkhead meansattached in connection between the legs of the second carline, floorsupport means extending between the bulkhead means at substantially theupper edge portions thereof, longitudinally extending sidewallstructures connecting the carlines in longitudinally spaced relation andhaving their lower edge portions at an elevation substantially the sameas that of the floor support means, and a roof structure connecting thepair of carlines at their upper portions to provide an integral body andframe structure having a compartment space beneath the floor structuresup porting means, and between the first and second bulkhead means.

2. A body module for a vehicle body comprising; first and seconddownwardly opening U-shaped carlines having laterally spaced legs, firsttransversely extending bulkhead means attached in connection between thelegs of the first carline, second transversely extending bulkhead menasattached in connection between the legs of the second carline, aplurality of low profile members extending between the bulkheads atsubstantially the upper edge portions thereof, passenger compartmentfloor panel means mounted on the plurality of low profile members,longitudinally extending sidewall structures connecting the carlines inlongitudinally spaced relation and having their lower edge portions atan elevation substantially the same as that of low profile members,means on the sidewall structures supporting the side edge portions ofthe floor panel means, and a roof structure connecting the pair ofcarlines at their upper portions, the roof structure including inner andouter roof panels and having an access opening located centrallytherein, the floor panel means and first and second bulkhead meansdefining a compartment space beneath the passenger compartment floorpanel means.

3. A body module for a vehicle body comprising: first and seconddownwardly opening U-shaped carlines having laterally spaced legs, afirst transversely extending bulkhead means attached in connectionbetween the legs of the first carline, a second transversely extendingbulkhead means attached in connection between the legs of the secondcarline, longitudinally extending sidewall structures connecting thefirst and second carlines in longitudinally spaced relation, a roofstructure connecting the first and second carlines at their upperportions, floor means extending longitudinally between the first andsecond bulkhead means and transversely between the sidewall structure todefine a passenger compartment in cooperation with the roof structure,the first and second transversely extending bulkhead means :beinggenerally beneath the floor means and cooperating with the floor meansto provide a compartment space beneath the floor means and between thefirst and second bulkhead means, the lower edge portions of the sidewallstructures being at an elevation substantially the same as the floormeans to permit access to the compartment space.

1. A body module for a vehicle body comprising; first and seconddownwardly opening U-shaped carlines having laterally spaced legs, firsttransversely extending bulkhead means attached in connection between thelegs of the first carline, second transversely extending bulkhead meansattached in connection between the legs of the second carline, floorsupport means extending between the bulkhead means at substantially theupper edge portions thereof, longitudinally extending sidewallstructures connecting the carlines in longitudinally spaced relation andhaving their lower edge portions at an elevation substantially the sameas that of the floor support means, and a roof structure connecting thepair of carlines at their upper portions to provide an integral body andframe structure having a compartment space beneath the floor structuresupporting means, and between the first and second bulkhead means.
 2. Abody module for a vehicle body comprising; first and second downwardlyopening U-shaped carlines having laterally spaced legs, firsttransversely extending bulkhead means attached in connection between thelegs of the first carline, second transversely extending bulkhead menasattached in connection between the legs of the second carline, aplurality of low profile members extending between the bulkheads atsubstantially the upper edge portions thereof, passenger compartmentfloor panel means mountEd on the plurality of low profile members,longitudinally extending sidewall structures connecting the carlines inlongitudinally spaced relation and having their lower edge portions atan elevation substantially the same as that of low profile members,means on the sidewall structures supporting the side edge portions ofthe floor panel means, and a roof structure connecting the pair ofcarlines at their upper portions, the roof structure including inner andouter roof panels and having an access opening located centrallytherein, the floor panel means and first and second bulkhead meansdefining a compartment space beneath the passenger compartment floorpanel means.
 3. A body module for a vehicle body comprising: first andsecond downwardly opening U-shaped carlines having laterally spacedlegs, a first transversely extending bulkhead means attached inconnection between the legs of the first carline, a second transverselyextending bulkhead means attached in connection between the legs of thesecond carline, longitudinally extending sidewall structures connectingthe first and second carlines in longitudinally spaced relation, a roofstructure connecting the first and second carlines at their upperportions, floor means extending longitudinally between the first andsecond bulkhead means and transversely between the sidewall structure todefine a passenger compartment in cooperation with the roof structure,the first and second transversely extending bulkhead means beinggenerally beneath the floor means and cooperating with the floor meansto provide a compartment space beneath the floor means and between thefirst and second bulkhead means, the lower edge portions of the sidewallstructures being at an elevation substantially the same as the floormeans to permit access to the compartment space.